PHOENIX – The 41st Biennial Clergy-Laity
Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America commenced
yesterday with the Orthros service and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy held
in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of Phoenix, Arizona,
with approximately 1,200 faithful in attendance. The Holy Metropolis of
San Francisco and the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Phoenix are the hosts
of this 41st Congress.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over the Divine
Liturgy concelebrating with all the Metropolitans of the Holy Eparchial
Synod of the Archdiocese. Taking part in the Liturgy were His Eminence
Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of
Boston, His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, His Eminence
Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of
Detroit, His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, His Eminence
Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, and His Eminence Metropolitan
Evangelos of New Jersey.

His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, representative of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Congress, attended the Liturgy from the
Solea along with His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, Chief Secretary
of the Holy Eparchial Synod.

Just before the dismissal of the Liturgy, Archbishop Demetrios of
America spoke to the hundreds of faithful who filled the large church.
The Archbishop, basing his homily on the Gospel and the Epistle readings
of the day, spoke about faith and love as two essential and
indispensable pillars. Emphasizing the theme of the Congress he said,
“Both are required if we are to ‘go and bear fruit’ as the Lord commands
us.” His Eminence directed the attention of the faithful to the two
saints commemorated today, the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, who
exemplify and demonstrate, in the best possible way, what faith and
love should be. He also expressed his gratitude to the host Hierarch,
Metropolitan Gerasimos, for the hospitality and the preparations for the
Congress, and to all the Hierarchs of the Synod who concelebrated in
the Liturgy. He then expressed the love and gratitude of the flock of
the Archdiocese to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and
introduced the Patriarchal Representative, Metropolitan Sotirios of
Toronto.

“I have witnessed your faith, and the faith of all the Hierarchs and
faithful during the beautiful Divine Liturgy,” said Metropolitan
Sotirios and conveyed the paternal and patriarchal greetings and
blessings of His All Holiness. Speaking on the theme of the Congress “to
go and bear fruit,” he emphasized the importance of children as a
precious gift from God, the importance of their well-being, the Orthodox
family, the Sunday, day and afternoon schools and our role in
cultivating faith in the younger generation.

Immediately following, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
offered a warm welcome to all. He reiterated the message of love in St.
Paul’s Epistle and affirmed this love as the context for “all the hard
work we do when we come together in these Congresses.”

Later in the afternoon, Archbishop Demetrios was joined by
Metropolitan Sotirios, Metropolitans Methodios, Nicholas and Evangelos,
and Leadership 100 Chairman Charles H. Cotros for the cutting of the
ribbon at the official opening of the Congress Exhibit Hall. Leadership
100, as a small token of its many years commitment and contributions to
the ministries of the Archdiocese, provided a generous gift of $25,000
for the underwriting of the exhibit area, which features numerous booths
with vendors from the United States, Canada, Greece, and Cyprus and
includes a ministry pavilion which highlights the national ministries of
the Archdiocese.

Following the opening of the exhibit area, Archbishop Demetrios
attended the opening ceremony of the National Philoptochos Convention.
The Convention is held in conjunction with the Clergy-Laity Congress,
and this year has a very high attendance of 416 registered delegates.
Metropolitan Sotirios read the Patriarchal Message, and a pre-recorded
video message of His All Holiness was presented. Philoptochos President
Aphrodite Skeadas presented the work and accomplishments of the last two
years and thanked among others Bishop Sevastianos of Zela for his
devotion to the organization and his spiritual guidance.

Immediately after, His Eminence was accompanied again by Metropolitan
Sotirios of Toronto and the other Metropolitans of the Eparchial Synod
in attending a reception of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church
Musicians where a choir performed hymns and the 2012 Recipients of the
St. Romanos Medallion were announced. The Order of St. Andrew - Archons
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America also held a reception and a
very informative presentation on the issues concerning our Ecumenical
Patriarchate was attended by the Hierarchs, many Archons and delegates.

Daily coverage of the events of the Congress will be available on the web site of the Archdiocese at www.goarch.org. Congress information, reports, and programs are available at www.clergylaity.org.